Venezuela zooming in on fifth place at Pan Am Cup

GATINEAU, Canada, June 17, 2011 – Kervin Pinerua and Jhoser Contreras scored 18 points each to lead Venezuela to a 25-11, 26-24, 16-25, 27-25 victory over Argentina in a consolation semifinal Friday at the Pan Am Cup men’s volleyball tournament.

With the victory, Venezuela advances to the fifth place match against the winner of the Mexico-Dominican Republic consolation semi later Friday.  Argentina will face the loser of that match for seventh.

Agustin Ramonda and Ivan Castellani replied with 14 points apiece for Argentina which fielded its national junior team in preparation for the world junior championships later this summer.

 ‘’It was a difficult game for both teams,’’ said Venezuela’s head coach Idolo Herrera.  ‘’This was the time we needed to play well.  We have fulfilled our goals so far.’’

‘’We have a very good rivalry with Argentina,’’ said Pinerua.  ‘’In head to head competition they have won more often so it’s great for our confidence.’’

 ‘’We are the only true junior team here, all the others have some senior players,’’ said Argentina’s head coach Juan Manuel Cichello. ‘’Still, we expected to play better.’’

‘’It’s hard to say anything in an emotional moment like this,’’ said Argentina’s setter and captain Juan Ignacio Finoli.  ‘’It was a disappointing result for our team.’